Hoverstate is a technology firm that primarily works in the health and wellness sector.

The former courthouse and federal building will reopen as the Courthouse Lofts soon.

The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance and technology firm Hoverstate announced Monday it would open a new office in downtown Lubbock.

The company plans to hire 50 employees, who will earn an average annual salary of $60,000. Employees will primarily work on technology sector jobs with a company called Pega, a business process automation firm who recently invested in Hoverstate. Jobs in the Lubbock market are already listed on the Hoverstate website.

Rob Fauver, managing partner for the Los Angeles-based agency, said the company looked at several cities for the new office, including nearby Amarillo. Carolyn Rowley, director of business recruitment and innovation for LEDA, said Lubbock stood out to the company for multiple reasons.

“They looked at several cities and ultimately chose Lubbock because of who we have and what we provide,” Rowley said. “Not only do we have a good work ethic here and a good workforce, but we also have Texas Tech, which provides a good pipeline of employees for them.”

Fauver said the people of Lubbock were who really impressed him. When he first visited Lubbock earlier this year, Fauver said he got a ride from the airport to his hotel from two young men on a fluke. He said the kindness of the gentlemen automatically showed him what kind of city Lubbock is.

“That’s about the best first impression anybody could have had to a city,” Fauver said. “It speaks to the kind of quality of people we met every time we came here and every interaction we had with local folks.”

Hoverstate also has offices in Los Angeles, Oakland, California, and Italy. Fauver said the rest of the location choices weren’t too strategic; Lubbock was.

“It represents the first place where we can tell our clients, ‘We built this specifically for you,’” Fauver said.

Hoverstate will office in the basement of the Courthouse Lofts at 800 Broadway. The building is currently being renovated. Lubbockites will know the location as the former federal building and court house.

A handful of current employees will soon relocate to start the Lubbock office, which is expected to open in November. Favuer said his team is looking forward to becoming a part of The Hub City.

“We have a lot of fun, and I hope that’s something that we’ll bring to Lubbock,” Fauver said. “I hope you’ll find we have a great team of technologist and innovators that will hopefully descend upon the city in great numbers and help be a part of the culture as well.”

LEDA CEO and President John Osborne said his office is always looking to bring new businesses to Lubbock and help existing ones grow.

LEDA will host four press conferences this week highlighting developments in downtown. On Tuesday, they will announce the expansion of two local businesses that will create 203 new jobs in the city.